Providing Utilization Information for Intelligent Selection of Operating Parameters of a Wireless Access Point

ABSTRACT

Aspects of the disclosure are directed toward intelligently selecting the operating parameters of wireless access points (WAPs) deployed in a wireless environment so as to minimize or at least reduce interference in that wireless environment. A WAP continually measures the characteristics of the wireless channels used in the wireless environment and obtains measurements of channel metrics for those channels. The WAP stores the channel metric measurements as a channel metric history and analyzes the channel metric history to determine correlations between the channel metric measurements and various timeframes. The WAP selects one or more of its operating parameters based on the channel metric history and the correlations identified. Operating parameters include the radio frequency band and channel to transmit on. A centralized control server may also receive, store, and analyze channel metric histories from multiple WAPs and issue instructions to those WAPs identifying values for their respective operating parameters.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/789,381, filed on Jul. 1, 2015, which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

A current popular form of wireless computer networking technology isbased on the IEEE 802.11 specification which uses the 2.4, 5, and 60 GHzISM radio frequency bands—commercially known as “Wi-Fi.” These radiofrequency bands, however, may be unlicensed thus permitting any deviceto operate within those radio frequency bands. As a result, devices thattransmit and receive radio communications within these frequency bandsare prone to interference from other devices operating at the samefrequency or within the same radio frequency band.

With the growing popularity of devices with wireless communicationcapabilities, almost every home, school, office, and business includesat least one wireless access point (WAP) with some having multiple WAPs.In addition, municipalities and network service providers have begun todeploy publically available WAPs to provide wireless communicationcapabilities in public spaces such as parks, thoroughfares, and thelike. As the number of WAPs deployed to a particular area increases, sodoes the re-use of the limited channels (e.g., frequencies) that areavailable in the unlicensed frequency bands. The re-use of channelsoften results in interference caused by multiple WAPs and theircorresponding clients transmitting on the same channel concurrently.Such interference is only exacerbated as the number of clients connectedto the WAP increases.

Since the density of public and private wireless environments isexpected to only increase with the proliferation of wireless devices andWAPs to service those devices, the risk of interference is also expectedto increase. Accordingly improved techniques for configuring WAPs areneeded to ensure a high quality of service within those crowded wirelessenvironments.

SUMMARY

In some embodiments, a WAP deployed in a wireless environmentcontinually measures its utilization. The WAP obtains measurements ofone or more utilization metrics that indicate the extent to which theWAP is being utilized. Utilization metrics may include, for example, ameasurement of traffic on the channel utilized by the WAP, a measurementof bandwidth available on that channel, the number of client devicesconnected to the WAP, the number of packets or frames transmitted by theWAP within a predetermined time period, and a volume of data transmittedby the WAP within a predetermined time period. The WAP may obtainutilization metrics measurements at regular intervals, e.g., every tenminutes.

In some embodiments, the WAP stores the utilization metric measurementsobtained in a history of utilization metric measurements. The history ofutilization metric measurements may include, for each time period duringwhich utilization of the WAP was measured, a set of utilization metricmeasurements. Each set of utilization metric measurements may determinethe channel utilized by the WAP during the during the measurementperiod. The WAP may also analyze the history of utilization metricmeasurements to determine correlations between the one or more operatingparameters of the WAP (e.g., the channel utilized) and varioustimeframes, e.g., times-of-day, days of the week, date ranges, and thelike. Additionally or alternatively, the WAP may transmit the history ofutilization metric measurements to a centralized server that receivesand stores multiple histories of utilization metric measurementsrespectively received from multiple WAPs. That centralized server maylikewise analyze the histories of utilization metric measurements todetermine correlations between a utilization metric and varioustimeframes. As described further below, the centralized server may alsotake into account information received from other systems, devices, andservices that operate within the same wireless environments as a WAPwhich may suggest the extent to which that WAP is or is expected to beutilized.

The WAP may also be configured to transmit its utilization metricmeasurements to neighboring WAPs and receive utilization informationfrom neighboring WAPs. As noted above, multiple WAPs may be deployedwithin the same location such that those WAPs are within transmissionrange of each other. Those WAPs may thus exchange the utilization metricmeasurements each respectively obtains in order to further improveselection of their various operating parameters. As explained in furtherdetail below, a WAP may analyze the respective utilization metricmeasurements it obtains as well as the utilization information receivedfrom another WAP and select its operating parameters based on thatanalysis. As an example, a WAP may receive utilization information fromanother WAP indicating a relatively high utilization of that WAP onchannel number 1 between the hours of 5:00 PM and 8:00 PM. In order toavoid or at least mitigate interference with that other WAP, the WAP mayset its operating channel to channel 11 during those hours. Additionalexamples will be appreciated with the benefit of the additionaldisclosures provided herein. In some example implementations, the WAPmay utilize its beaconing feature to transmit the utilizationinformation to other WAPs. Accordingly at least some of the utilizationmetric measurements obtained by the WAP may be included in a beacontransmitted into the surrounding wireless environment which, in turn,may be received by neighboring WAPs.

A WAP may also receive status information from systems or devices thatoperate within the location at which the WAP is deployed. Such systemsand devices may include, for example, building security systems anddevices, lighting control systems and devices, temperature controlsystems and devices, energy management systems and devices, and thelike. A common feature these types of systems and devices share is thattheir status may suggest whether the WAP is likely to be utilized. Asone example, activation of a building security system may suggest thatthe building is unoccupied and thus, a WAP that provides wirelessservices to the occupants of that building is not likely to be utilized.On the other hand, deactivation of the building security system maysuggest the building is occupied and thus the WAP is likely to beutilized. Additional examples will be appreciated with the benefit ofthe additional disclosures set forth herein. A WAP may receive statusinformation from such systems and devices and likewise select one ormore of its operating parameters based, at least in part, on such statusinformation. Continuing the example above, the WAP deployed at thebuilding may reduce its transmit power in response to receipt of statusinformation indicating the building security system has been activated.Again additional examples will be appreciated with the benefit of thisdisclosure.

Based on the utilization metric history obtained and the correlationsidentified, the WAP may select one or more operating parameters andreconfigure itself to utilize those selected operating parameters.Operating parameters include, for example, a particular radio frequencyband and a particular channel to transmit on, a particular transmitpower, and a particular wireless networking standard to utilize. The WAPmay also select, based on the utilization metric history obtained andcorrelations identified, a sequence of operating parameters for asequence of timeframes, i.e., different operating parameters to use atvarious times throughout the day so as to avoid interference expected inthe wireless environment during those timeframes. Additionally oralternatively, the centralized server may transmit to the WAP parameterselection instructions identifying one or more operating parameters toutilize. The centralized server may likewise transmit parameterselection instructions that include sequences of operating parameters toutilize at various times throughout the day.

As noted above, a WAP may select its operating parameters based on itsown history of utilization metric measurements, utilization informationreceived from other WAPs, and status information received from remotesystems or devices that operate within the location at which the WAP isdeployed. It will thus be appreciated with the benefit of thisdisclosure, that the WAP may select its operating parameters based onvarious combinations of the information above. For example, a WAP mayselect its operating parameters i) based solely on its own history ofutilization metric measurements and utilization correlations identifiedtherefrom, ii) based solely on utilization information received fromother WAPs and utilization correlations identified therefrom, or iii)based solely on status information received from the remote systems ordevices and correlations identified therefrom. With respect to thestatus information received, a WAP, in some example implementations, mayselect its operating parameters based solely on the status informationreceived without determining any correlations associated with thatstatus information. The WAP may also select its operating parametersbased on i) a combination of its own history of utilization metricmeasurements, utilization information received from other WAPs, andutilization correlations identified therefrom, ii) a combination of itsown history of utilization metric measurements, status informationreceived from remote systems or devices, and utilization correlationsidentified therefrom, iii) a combination of utilization informationreceived from other WAPs, status information received from remotesystems or devices, and utilization correlations identified therefrom,or iv) a combination of its own history of utilization metricmeasurements, utilization information received from other WAPs, statusinformation received from remote systems or devices, and utilizationcorrelations identified therefrom. A WAP control server may likewiseselect operating parameters for WAPs deployed to a location based onthis information and combinations thereof.

Client devices operating within the wireless environment may alsoreceive transmissions from WAPs that include utilization information anddetermine which WAP to connect to based on an analysis of thatutilization information. As an example, a client device operating withina location at which two WAPs are deployed may have the option of whichWAP to connect to. The client device may receive a respectivetransmission from each of the WAPs and determine, based on theutilization information included therein, which WAP has a relativelyhigher utilization (e.g., a higher amount of bandwidth utilized) andwhich WAP has a relatively lower utilization (e.g., a lower amount ofbandwidth utilized). Based on the utilization information received, theclient device may connect to the WAP having the relatively lowerutilization. If both WAPs, in this example, have about the sameutilization (or if the difference in utilization not enough to result ina different quality of service), the client device may connect to eitherWAP. Various schemes may be selectively employed to determine which WAPto connect to when the difference in utilization is negligible, e.g.,connect to a WAP at random, connect to the WAP where the signal strengthis higher, etc. Accordingly, client devices may be configured with WAPconnection protocols that take into account the utilization informationtransmitted by the various WAPs it has the option of connecting to.Other examples of determining which WAP a client should connect to willlikewise be appreciated with the benefit of the additional disclosuresset forth herein.

This summary is not intended to identify critical or essential featuresof the disclosures herein, but instead merely summarizes certainfeatures and variations thereof. Other details and features will also bedescribed in the sections that follow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some features herein are illustrated by way of example, and not by wayof limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in whichlike reference numerals refer to similar elements.

FIG. 1A illustrates an example wireless environment in which multiplewireless access points have been deployed in accordance with aspectsdescribed herein.

FIG. 1B illustrates another example wireless environment in whichmultiple wireless access points have been deployed in accordance withaspects described herein.

FIG. 2A illustrates a block diagram of an example of an implementationof a wireless access point in accordance with aspects described herein.

FIG. 2B illustrates a block diagram of another example of animplementation of a wireless access point and an example of animplementation of a wireless access point control server in accordancewith aspects described herein.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of an implementation of a system in whichmultiple wireless access points are in signal communication with awireless access point control server in accordance with aspectsdescribed herein.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of an implementation of a beacontransmitted by a wireless access point in accordance with aspectsdescribed herein.

FIG. 5A illustrates an example of an implementation of a history ofutilization metric measurements obtained by a wireless access point inaccordance with aspects described herein.

FIG. 5B illustrates an example of an implementation of utilizationinformation transmitted by a neighboring wireless access point inaccordance with aspects described herein.

FIG. 5C illustrates an example of an implementation of statusinformation transmitted by a remote system or device in accordance withaspects described herein.

FIG. 6 illustrates a flowchart of example method steps for configuringan operating parameter of a wireless access point in accordance withaspects described herein.

FIG. 7 illustrates a flowchart of example method steps for configuringrespective operating parameters of multiple wireless access points usinga wireless access point control server in accordance with aspectsdescribed herein.

FIG. 8 illustrates a flowchart of example method steps for connecting aclient device to one of multiple wireless access points available at alocation in accordance with aspects described herein.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example hardware platform on which the variouselements described herein can be implemented.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aspects described herein relate to intelligently configuring wirelessaccess points (WAPs) to mitigate interference among neighboring WAPs astheir utilization fluctuates. The techniques described below aredescribed, by way of example, in the context of the Wi-Fi family ofwireless networking technologies—i.e., the IEEE the 802.11x family ofwireless networking technologies. The techniques described below,however, may be employed with any wireless networking technology inwhich a set of frequencies are shared among wireless devices.

As noted above, the techniques described below may be employed inwireless environments where devices utilize the IEEE 802.11x family ofwireless networking technologies which may operate in the 2.4, 5, and 60GHz radio frequency bands (“Wi-Fi” and “WiGig”) and in the 54-790 MHzfrequency radio bands of the VHF and UHF white space spectrum (“SuperWi-Fi”). The techniques described below may also be employed in wirelessenvironments where devices utilize the IEEE 802.16x family of wirelessnetworking technologies (“WiMAX”) which may operate in the 10-66 GHzradio frequency bands. Although the techniques described herein arereferred to in the context of unlicensed frequency bands, it should beunderstood that such techniques may also be employed in wirelessenvironments where devices utilizes licensed frequency bands, e.g., the3.6 GHz frequency band.

By way of example, a WAP may be configured to operate in the 2.4 GHzfrequency band which extends between 2.4 GHz and 2.5 GHz and is dividedinto fourteen total channels spaced 5 MHz apart and numbered fromchannel 1 to channel 14. The WAP may thus be configured to utilize oneof those channels as its operating channel. Due to regulations, one ormore of the channels may not be available in some jurisdictions. Otherfrequency bands may be similarly divided into multiple channels.

To mitigate the effects of interference in a wireless environment inwhich multiple WAPs are deployed, techniques may utilize historicmeasurements of utilization metrics to select operating parameters forthe WAPs. As described in further detail below, a WAP continuallymeasures its utilization and stores the measurements obtained to build ahistory of utilization metric measurements. The WAP analyzes thatutilization metric history to determine correlations in utilizations(e.g., patterns and/or trends) across various time periods. Based on theanalysis of the utilization metric history, the WAP is thus equipped tomake intelligent decisions with respect to the channel, frequency band,and/or other operating parameters it utilizes to exchange wirelesscommunications with client devices.

As a practical example, a municipality or network service provider maydeploy multiple WAPs to provide wireless networking capabilities acrossan entire geographic area such as a public park. To ensure blanketcoverage, WAPs may be deployed such that their wireless range overlaps.Since overlapping wireless ranges introduces the potential forinterference, however, the WAPs may again continually measure theirrespective utilizations to obtain respective histories of utilizationmetric measurements. Those histories of utilization metric measurementsmay be analyzed to determine patterns and/or trends in utilizationwithin the public area, e.g., that utilization is relatively higherduring lunch hours, during the evening, and on weekends. Based on thesepatterns and/or trends, the WAPs may select their respective operatingparameters (e.g., operating channel) to mitigate interference. Forexample, neighboring WAPs having overlapping wireless ranges may eachrespectively select non-overlapping channels. As described in furtherdetail below, the WAPs deployed by a particular network service providermay each be connected to a centralized WAP control server and transmittheir respective channel metric histories to the WAP control server forstorage and analysis. The WAP control server may then issue instructionsto a WAP identifying one or more operating parameters to use, e.g., aparticular channel to set as the operating channel. Additional exampleswill be appreciated with the benefit of this disclosure.

The techniques described herein may also be adopted as standard featuresfor WAPs in order to improve operation of WAPs that may be manufacturedby different manufacturers. The unlicensed nature of Wi-Fi means thatmultiple service providers may deploy WAPs having differentmanufacturers and thus different specifications and features at the samelocation. A form of self-governance among WAPs of different serviceprovides and different manufacturers advantageously results when theoperating parameters and corresponding utilization of those WAPs arebroadcast throughout the wireless environment. In other words, while anyone service provider or WAP might not be able to claim exclusive use ofthe unlicensed frequency band, all service providers and WAPs canbenefit by sharing their historic utilization metric measurements whichallows for more intelligent selection of operating parameters so as toavoid or at least mitigate interference among the WAPs. As a result, thewireless services provided by each of the WAPs and service providers isadvantageously improved.

It is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used hereinare for the purpose of description and should not be regarded aslimiting. Rather, the phrases and terms used herein are to be giventheir broadest interpretation and meaning. The use of “including” and“comprising” and variations thereof is meant to encompass the itemslisted thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional itemsand equivalents thereof. The use of the terms “mounted,” “connected,”“coupled,” “positioned,” “engaged” and similar terms, is meant toinclude both direct and indirect mounting, connecting, coupling,positioning and engaging. In addition a “set” as used in thisdescription refers to a collection of one or more elements. Furthermorenon-transitory computer-readable media refer to all types ofcomputer-readable media with the sole exception being a transitorypropagating signal.

Referring now to FIG. 1, an example wireless environment 100 a in whichmultiple wireless access points (WAPs) 102 a and 102 b (collectively 102a-b) have been deployed is shown. As noted above, the wirelessenvironment 100 a may be a public or private space. As seen in FIG. 1,WAP 102 a is respectively associated with a wireless range 104 a and WAP102 b is respectively associated with a wireless range 104 b thatoverlap with each other resulting in a region 106 a of overlap of thewireless ranges. Client devices 108 may be located within the wirelessenvironment 100 a and in signal communication with one of the WAPs 102a-b. The WAPs 102 a-b may provide the client devices 108 with networkaccess, e.g., access to a local area network (LAN), a wide area network(WAN) such as the Internet, and/or a content delivery network.

Client devices may be any type of computing device configured forwireless networking. Examples of client devices include desktopcomputing devices, laptop computing devices, tablet computing devices,hand-held computing devices, servers, gateways, data storage devices,mobile cellular telephones, video game machines, televisions, digitalvideo recorders, set-top boxes, in-vehicle devices (e.g., vehiclemonitoring devices, navigation devices, point-of-interest devices),wearable computing devices (e.g., watches, retinal displays,head-mounted displays), robots, “smart” devices and appliances, andnetwork-enabled objects that form part of the “Internet of Things.”

As also seen in FIG. 1, the WAPs 102 a-b are in wireless signalcommunication with each other and thus capable of transmitting andreceiving transmissions 109 from each other. The WAPs 102 a-b areconfigured to obtain utilization metric measurements based on theservices provided to the client devices 108 and transmit thatutilization information to the other WAP in the transmissions 109. TheWAPs 102 a-b may thus analyze the utilization metric measurementsobtained and the utilization information received in order tointelligently select their respective operating parameters. In this way,the WAPs 102 a-b advantageously mitigate interference and thus mitigatedegradation of the wireless signals exchanged with the client devices108. By mitigating interference and mitigating degradation of thewireless signals, aspects of the wireless services the WAPs 102 a-bprovide to client devices 108 are advantageously improved, e.g., lowerlatency, higher throughput, less packet loss, fewer collisions.

In some scenarios, each of the WAPs 102 a-b may be deployed by the sameentity, e.g., the same service provider such as a network serviceprovider and/or content service provider. In these scenarios the serviceprovider may control the configuration of the WAPs 102 a-b to minimizeinterference between neighboring WAPs. Given the unlicensed nature ofsome wireless communication technologies, however, it will be recognizedthat other service providers may deploy their own WAPs 102 a-b withinthe wireless environment 100 a thus introducing potential sources ofinterference. Since a service provider is unlikely to have control overthe WAPs deployed by another service provider, other strategies areneeded to minimize, or at least mitigate, those potential sources ofinterference. The intelligent channel selection techniques describedherein may be implemented to that effect.

As also seen in FIG. 1A, a system 110 and a device 112 is deployedwithin the wireless environment 100 a. The system 110 and the device 112may be such that their status is indicative of or suggests a likelihoodthat the WAPs 102 a or 102 b is or will be utilized. Such types ofsystems may include, for example, building security systems (e.g., home,business, or office), temperature control systems, lighting controlsystems, energy management systems, and other types of systems thatsuggest the likelihood of utilization of the WAP 102 a or 102 b. Suchtypes of devices may thus include, for example, security cameras, motionsensors, audio sensors, door locks, thermostats, lighting elements, andother types of devices the status of which may indicate whether a useris present within the wireless environment and thus potentially utilizethe wireless services of the WAP. Accordingly, a WAP may be configured,for example, based on a thermostat setting of a temperature controlsystem (e.g., ON/OFF, a particular temperature setting, a temperaturesetting schedule), based on sensor readings and/or the status of asecurity system (e.g., activated/deactivated, audio detected, motiondetected), based a setting of a door lock or lighting element (e.g.,ON/OFF), based on an energy consumption reading of an energy managementsystem (e.g., kilowatt-hours—kWh), and the like.

With reference to FIG. 1B, another example wireless environment 100 b inwhich multiple WAPs 102 c and 102 d (collectively 102 c-d) are deployedto provide wireless services to client devices 108 within the wirelessenvironment is shown. The WAP 102 c is similarly associated with awireless range 104 c, and the WAP 102 d is similarly associated with awireless range 104 d. The wireless ranges 104 c and 104 d likewiseoverlap with one another to provide a region 106 b of overlap. In thisexample wireless environment 100 b, a client device 114 is locatedwithin the region 106 b of overlap of the wireless ranges 104 a-b andthus capable of receiving transmissions from each of the WAPs 102 c-d,e.g., a transmission 116 a from WAP 102 c and a transmission 116 b fromWAP 102 d. The client device 114 thus has the option of which WAP 102 cor WAP 102 d to connect to. The transmissions 116 a-b may respectivelyinclude utilization information describing the utilization of therespective WAPs 102 c-d. Based on that utilization information, theclient device 114 may select one of the WAPs 102 c-d to connect to andutilize the wireless services it provides.

Utilization information, as used herein, refers to information thatdescribes utilization of a wireless access point. Utilizationinformation may include, for example, a measurement of a utilizationmetric as well as a set of measurements of multiple utilization metricmeasurements for one or more utilization metrics. Utilizationinformation may also include information associated with the measurementof a utilization metric such as, for example, a timestamp at which themeasurement was obtained (e.g., 2016-02-24 6:11:00 AM) as well as one ormore operating parameters set at the WAP when the measurement wasobtained. Utilization information may include a history of utilizationmetric measurements, i.e., a sequence of successive sets of utilizationmetric measurements. As described in further detail below, a WAP may beconfigured to determine, based on the history of utilization metricmeasurements, correlations between a utilization metric and various timeperiods. Accordingly the WAP may thus also be configured to determine,based on those correlations, whether utilization of the WAP during asubsequent time period is expected to increase, decrease, or stay thesame. Utilization information may thus also include correlationsidentified through an analysis of the utilization metric measurementsbetween one or more utilization metrics and various time periods.Utilization correlations may include, for example, informationindicating an expected utilization for a subsequent time period. Theinformation indicating an expected utilization may thus includequalitative information, e.g., the expected utilization is expected tobe higher or lower relative to a current utilization. The informationindicating an expected utilization may, additionally or alternatively,include quantitative information, e.g., an average of the utilizationmetric for the subsequent time period as determined from the historicutilization metric measurements for that time period. The informationindicating an expected utilization may also include both qualitative andquantitative information, e.g., a percentage likelihood that theutilization will be “higher” or “lower” relative to a currentutilization.

Utilization metrics refer to measurable parameters that indicate to whatextent a WAP is being utilized. Examples of utilization metrics includea measurement of traffic on the channel utilized by the WAP, ameasurement of bandwidth available on that channel, the number of clientdevices connected to the WAP, the number of packets or framestransmitted by the WAP within a predetermined time period, a volume ofdata (e.g., bytes) transmitted by the WAP within a predetermined timeperiod, a noise floor, and the like. A WAP may be configured to measureone or more of these metrics at periodic intervals, e.g., every fifteenminutes, every half-hour, every hour, and so forth. In addition, the WAPmay calculate, store, and transmit various statistical values associatedwith the utilization metric measurements obtained including, forexample, a maximum for a utilization metric, a minimum for theutilization metric, and one or more measures of central tendency, e.g.,arithmetic mean, median, mode, and the like. Furthermore a WAP maycalculate, store, and transmits such statistical values for various timeperiods, e.g., statistical values for every one hour, every four hours,every eight hours, every twelve hours, every twenty-four hours, and thelike. The WAP may also be configured such that the utilization metricsmeasured, the duration between measurement periods, the statisticalvalues calculated, and the duration between transmissions areconfigurable parameters at the WAP. Examples of WAP operating parametersinclude a radio frequency band utilized by the WAP (e.g., 2.4 GHz or 5GHz), a channel within the radio frequency band utilized by the WAP(e.g., channel 1 or channel 11), a wireless networking standard for thewireless access point (e.g., 802.11b or 802.11g), a transmit power ofthe WAP (e.g., 5 mW or 10 dBm), and a channel bandwidth.

The client device 114, in this example, is configured to analyze theutilization information received in the transmissions 116 a-b todetermine which of the WAPs 102 c or 102 d to connect to. In someexample implementations, the client device 114 may be configured toconnect to the WAP that is currently less utilized. The WAP 102 d, inthis example, is shown in FIG. 1B to be connected to a total of fiveclient devices 108 while the WAP 102 c is shown to be connected to onlyone client device 108. The utilization information included in therespective transmissions 116 a-b received by the client device 114 mayindicate this utilization information, and the client device maydetermine the WAP 102 c is less utilized since it has fewer clientsconnected to it compared to the WAP 102 d.

It will also be appreciated that the amount of bandwidth utilized by theWAP may, in addition to or as an alternative of the number of connectedclient devices, provide a useful indication of the utilization of theWAP. For example, a WAP connected to only one client device may bedetermined to have a higher utilization when that client device demandsa larger percentage of the available bandwidth as compared to anotherWAP connected to multiple clients that collectively demand a smallerpercentage of the available bandwidth. As noted above, the utilizationinformation received at a client from a WAP may also include anindication of whether the utilization is expected to increase ordecrease for a subsequent time period. Accordingly the client device maybe configured to take into account an expected utilization for a WAPduring upcoming time periods when the client device has the option ofconnecting to multiple WAPs. For example, a client device may receiveutilization information from a WAP that indicates a relatively highercurrent utilization but a relatively lower expected utilization for asubsequent time period. The client device may therefore determine toconnect to this WAP in favor of another WAP providing utilizationinformation indicating a relatively lower current utilization but arelatively higher expected utilization for the same subsequent timeperiod. Where the difference in utilization between multiple WAPs isnegligible, a client device may, in some example implementations, selectone of the WAPs to connect to at random. Other examples and techniquesfor selecting which one of multiple WAPs to connect to will beappreciated with the benefit of this disclosure.

Referring now to FIG. 2A, a block diagram of an example of animplementation of a wireless access point (WAP) 200 configured forintelligent selection of its operating parameters is shown. The WAP 200,in this example, is configured to periodically measure its utilization,store utilization metric measurements as a utilization metric history,analyze the utilization metric history to determine correlations betweenthe utilization metrics measured and various timeframes, and select oneor more operating parameters based on those correlations.

The WAP 200, in this example, includes a radio 202, a processor 206, adata store 208, and memory 210. The data store 208 stores theutilization metric history 212 corresponding to a set 213 of utilizationmetric measurements 215 obtained by the WAP 200 and stores theutilization metric correlations 214 identified from the analysis of theutilization metric history. The WAP 200 is programmed with instructionsthat, when executed by the processor 206, cause the WAP 200 to performvarious actions associated with intelligent selection of its operatingparameters. Accordingly, the memory 210 stores utilization metricanalysis logic 216 corresponding to a set of instructions for analyzingthe utilization metric history 212 and stores parameter selection logic218 corresponding to a set of instructions for selecting a value for oneor more operating parameters of the WAP 200 based on the analysis of theutilization metric history 212.

The utilization metric measurement 215, in FIG. 2A, includes ameasurement value 217 for a measured utilization metric, a timestamp 219indicating a date and time the WAP 200 measured the utilization metric(e.g., a bandwidth utilization measurement), and an indication 221 ofthe operating parameter utilized by the WAP (e.g., the operatingchannel) when measuring the utilization metric. Although the utilizationmetric measurement 215 is shown with only one indication 221 of anoperating parameter, the utilization metric measurement may includemultiple indications of the operating parameters utilized by the WAP(e.g., the operating channel and the transmit power) when measuring theutilization metric. In addition, although the utilization metricmeasurement 215 is shown with only one measurement value 217 for ameasured utilization metric, the utilization metric measurement maysimilarly include multiple respective measurement values for multipleutilization metrics (e.g., a bandwidth utilization measurement and anumber of connected client devices) measured by the WAP 200.

The data store 208 of the WAP 200, in this example, also stores a set220 of utilization information 222 received from neighboring WAPs in thewireless environment at which the WAP is deployed. The data store 208 ofthe WAP 200, in this example, also stores a set 224 of statusinformation received from systems or devices operating within thewireless environment at which the WAP is deployed. When storingutilization information 222 received from a neighboring WAP or storingstatus information 226 received from a remote system or device, the WAP200 may, in some example implementations, replace previous utilizationinformation or status information previously received from thatneighboring WAP or from that remote system or device, e.g., such thatthe WAP only stores the most recent utilization information or statusinformation received from the neighboring WAP or remote system ordevice. In other example implementations, the WAP may store multiplesets of utilization information or status information (e.g., theprevious five sets of information) received from a particularneighboring WAP or remote system or device.

The radio 202 may include a corresponding receiver, transmitter, andantenna. In some example implementations, the radio 202 may includemultiple antennas for sending and receiving multiple data streamssimultaneously, e.g., in multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO)implementation. The radio 202 may be configured to operate within aparticular radio frequency band, e.g., the 2.4 GHz radio frequency bandor the 5 GHz frequency band. Although only one radio 202 is shown inFIG. 2A, the WAP 200 as well as other implementations of the WAP mayinclude multiple radios, e.g., at least one 2.4 GHz radio and at leastone 5 GHz radio. Similarly the WAP 200 and other implementations of theWAP may include multiple processors 206.

The utilization metric analysis logic 216 may determine the correlationsbetween utilization of the WAP and various timeframes and provide thecorrelations identified to the data store 208 for storage as theutilization metric correlations 214. The utilization metric correlations214 identified may include both linear and non-linear correlationsbetween the various the utilization metrics measured and varioustimeframes, and a metric may be positively or negatively correlated witha particular timeframe. The utilization metric correlations 214identified may also include correlations where there is no statisticallysignificant relationship between the utilization metric and thetimeframe, i.e., a utilization metric correlation may indicate thatthere is no appreciable correlation between utilization of the WAP andthe particular timeframe. Analyzing the utilization metric measurementsmay include obtaining an average of the utilization metric measurementsobtained during a particular timeframe and comparing that average to autilization metric measurement threshold or an average of utilizationmetric measurements obtained for another timeframe. As one example,analyzing the utilization metric measurements may include determiningwhether an average utilization metric measurement for a previoustimeframe crossed a metric measurement threshold—e.g., whether anaverage bandwidth utilization of the WAP 200 during a previous timeperiod exceeded 80% or was less than 80%. An another example, analyzingthe utilization metric measurements may include comparing averages ofutilization metric measurements for respective timeframes to determinewhether those averages differ by more than a predetermined amount—e.g.,whether the average number of clients connected to the WAP between 4:30AM-8:30 AM differs from the average number of clients connected to theWAP between 8:30 AM-5:30 PM by more than five total client devices. Itshould be recognized that the time periods discussed herein are providedby way of example only. In some example implementations, the timeperiods may be configurable parameters. In other example implementationsa WAP or a WAP control server may be configured to determine the timeperiods of relatively high utilization by determining that theutilization metric measurements have increased beyond a predeterminedincrease threshold within a predetermined time period and have decreasedbeyond a predetermined decrease threshold within a predetermined timeperiod, e.g., an increase or decrease of the utilization metricmeasurements by more than 50% within a one hour period. As a particularexample, based on one week's worth of utilization metric measurements, aWAP or WAP control server may observe a 60% average increase in thenumber of wireless devices utilizing the WAP between 4:00 AM and 5:00 AMand observe a 60% average decrease in the number of wireless devicesutilizing the WAP between 8:00 AM and 9:00 AM. Based on theseobservations, the WAP or WAP control server may define a time period of4:30 AM-8:30 AM. Additional examples will be appreciated with thebenefit of this disclosure.

The WAP 200, in this example, is configured to measure its utilizationand update its utilization metric history 212 intermittently,periodically, or at regular or irregular intervals. The WAP 200 may alsobe configured to measure its utilization in response to receipt of aninstruction from another device that is in wired or wireless signalcommunication with the WAP located either locally or remotely relativeto the WAP, e.g., a WAP control server. The utilization metric analysislogic 216, in turn, analyzes the new utilization metric measurementsobtained and updates (or replaces) the utilization metric correlations214 based on the analyses of the new utilization metric measurements.The WAP 200 may measure its utilization at regular intervals, e.g.,every 10 minutes. The utilization metric analysis logic 216 may performan analysis of the utilization metric history 212 after each measurementperiod or at a different regular interval, e.g., once a day. If storagespace is limited at the data store 208, the WAP 200 may deleteutilization metric measurements more than x days old (e.g., 7 days) tofree up storage space for new utilization metric measurements. Thiscontinual process of measuring the utilization of the WAP 200, updatingthe utilization metric history 212, and updating the utilization metriccorrelations 214 advantageously allows the WAP to adapt to changes inthe patterns and trends of utilization.

The WAP 200, in this example, is also configured to transmit theutilization information it obtains to neighboring WAPs. The utilizationinformation transmitted to the neighboring WAPs may include theutilization metric history 212 itself or a portion of the utilizationmetric history, e.g., one or more of the utilization metric measurements215 included in the utilization metric history. As an example, the WAP200 may be configured to transmit the utilization metric measurement 215obtained for the most recent measurement period (e.g., the previous tenminutes). As another example, the WAP 200 may be configured to transmitthe utilization metric measurements 215 obtained for the previous xnumber of measurement periods (e.g., the previous 5 measurementperiods). The WAP 200 may be configured to transmit utilizationinformation periodically at regular intervals (e.g., every ten minutes),in response to obtaining new utilization metric measurements, or inresponse to determining new utilization correlations. The WAP 200 mayalso be configured to transmit utilization information in response to anexplicit request from, e.g., a neighboring WAP, a WAP control server, orsome other system or device in direct or indirect signal communicationwith the WAP. In some example implementations, the WAP may be equippedwith a beaconing feature and employ this beaconing feature to transmitthe utilization information in a beacon. Using beacons to transmitutilization information will be discussed in further detail below.

The parameter selection logic 218, in this example, selects values forone or more operating parameters of the WAP 200 based on the utilizationmetric correlations 214 identified. The primary operating parameterselected for the WAP 200 based on the utilization metric correlations214 is the operating channel of the WAP. Accordingly the parameterselection logic 218 determines whether there is a better channel toutilize as the operating channel based on the utilization metriccorrelations and, if so, instructs the WAP 200 to switch its operatingchannel to that channel. The parameter selection logic 218 may determinewhether to switch to a different channel, e.g., whenever the utilizationmetric correlations 214 are updated or at a regular interval (e.g.,eight hours).

The parameter selection logic 218 may also determine to switch to adifferent channel in response to determining that a utilization metricmeasurement 215 obtained for its current operating channel has crossed ametric measurement threshold (i.e., dropped below the metric measurementthreshold or exceeded the measurement metric threshold). The parameterselection logic 218 may also determine whether to switch to a differentchannel based on a comparison of multiple channel metric measurements torespective metric measurement thresholds.

In addition to the operating channel, other operating parameters may beselected based on the utilization metric correlations 214 in order toimprove the performance of the WAP in the surrounding wirelessenvironment. Other operating parameters that may be selected based onthe utilization metric correlations 214 include the radio frequency bandutilized by the WAP, the wireless networking standard utilized by theWAP, and the transmit power of the WAP. As an example, the WAP 200 mayswitch from the 2.4 GHz radio frequency band to the 5 GHz radiofrequency band based on the utilization metric correlations 214identified. An another example, the WAP 200 may switch from the 802.11bwireless networking standard to the 802.11g wireless networking standardbased on the utilization metric correlations 214 identified.

In addition, an activation status of a WAP may be toggled based onutilization metric correlations. As an example, one or more inactiveWAPs deployed in a wireless environment may be activated and deactivatedbased on utilization metric correlations that indicate relatively moreor less demand for wireless services at various times. As an example,the utilization metric correlations may indicate that demand forwireless services decreases during the evening and nighttime hours andincreases during the morning and daytime hours. Accordingly, one or moreWAPs may deactivate around the time the utilization metric correlationsindicate demand for wireless services is expected to decrease, and oneor more WAPs may activate around the time the utilization metriccorrelations indicate demand for wireless services is expected toincrease. A WAP itself may determine whether to activate or deactivatebased on the utilization metric correlations or, additionally oralternatively, a WAP may receive an instruction to activate ordeactivate, e.g., from a centralized WAP control server. Furthermore, aWAP may generate or receive a sequence of timeframes during which theWAP should be active or inactive (e.g., active from 6:00 AM to 11:59 PMand inactive from 12:00 AM to 5:59 AM) and thus activate and deactivateaccording to that sequence.

Furthermore the parameter selection logic 218 may select a sequence ofoperating parameters for a sequence of consecutive timeframes based onthe utilization metric correlations identified. A timeframe may bedefined by one or more of a time-of-day (e.g., between 5:30 AM and 7:30AM), a day of the week (e.g., Saturday and Sunday), and a date range(e.g., between May 22 and August 27). In this way the parameterselection logic 218 may preemptively change the operating parameters ofthe WAP 200 based on the utilization metric correlations 214 identified.The parameter selection logic 218 may change an operating parameterprior to a subsequent timeframe, at the start of the subsequenttimeframe, or during the subsequent timeframe. In some exampleimplementations, even though the utilization metric correlations 214indicate the WAP 200 could be using a better operating channel, theparameter selection logic 218 may not change an operating parameter ofthe WAP unless a utilization metric measurement for its currentoperating channel has crossed a metric measurement threshold. In theseexample implementations, the WAP 200 advantageously avoids unnecessaryreconfigurations of its operating parameters and thus unnecessarydisruptions to the wireless services provided to its client devices.

The parameter selection logic 218 may select one or more operatingparameters based, in addition or as an alternative to the utilizationmetric correlations 214, the utilization information 222 received fromone or more neighboring WAPs and/or the status information 226 receivedfrom one or more remote systems or devices. As an example, the WAP 200may receive a transmission from a neighboring WAP indicating that thebandwidth utilization of the neighboring WAP operating on a firstchannel is x %. In response to receipt of this transmission, the WAP 200may determine that bandwidth utilization exceeds a bandwidth utilizationthreshold of y %, select a second operating channel for the WAP, andinstruct the WAP to set the selected channel as its current operatingchannel in order to mitigate interference with the neighboring WAP. Asanother example, the WAP 200 may receive status information indicatingan activation of security system deployed with the location of the WAP.As noted above, the WAP may be configured to interpret activation of asecurity system as an indication that the WAP is less likely to beutilized. Accordingly, in response to receipt of the status information,the WAP may, e.g., reduce its transmit power or deactivate completely.Additional examples will be appreciated with the benefit of thisdisclosure.

Referring now to FIG. 2B, a block diagram of another example of animplementation of a wireless access point (WAP) 250 configured forintelligent selection of operating parameters is shown. Like the WAP 200discussed above with reference to FIG. 2A, the WAP 250 in FIG. 2B isconfigured to periodically measure its utilization and store utilizationmetric measurements as a utilization metric history. In contrast to theWAP 200 of FIG. 2A, the WAP 250 of FIG. 2B does not analyze utilizationchannel metric history to determine utilization metric correlations andselect an operating parameter based on those correlations. Instead theWAP 250 is in signal communication with a WAP control server 252 via anetwork 254 and transmits its utilization metric history to the WAPcontrol server. The WAP control server 252 may be in signalcommunication with multiple WAPs via the network 254 and may thuscoordinate the configuration of those WAPs to minimize interferencebetween those WAPs. Based on the connection of the WAP control server252 to the WAP 250 via the network 254, the WAP control server may bedescribed as located remotely relative to the WAP.

The WAP control server 252 may be maintained by a service provider(e.g., a network service provider) that has deployed those WAPsthroughout a geographic area in order to provide wireless networkingcapabilities across that geographic area. In some implementations, theWAP control server 252 may be in signal communication with dozens,hundreds, thousands, or even millions of WAPs deployed across one ormore geographic areas. A service provider may also maintain a WAPcontrol server 252 for each geographic area in which WAPs have beendeployed such that each WAP control server manages the configuration ofthe WAPs deployed in its respective geographic region. A geographicregion may be defined in various way including coordinates of ageographic coordinate system (e.g., latitude/longitude), streetboundaries (e.g., northern, southern, eastern, and western streets), zipcode boundaries, municipal boundaries (e.g., county/city/stateboundaries), and the like. These techniques may be similarly employedfor other types of regions and/or areas that are smaller in scale, suchas office building, commercial buildings, residential buildings, and thelike.

Like the WAP 200 of FIG. 2A, the WAP 250 shown by way of example in FIG.2B includes a radio 256, a processor 260, and a data store 262. Theradio 256 and the processor 260 may be, respectively, the same as or atleast similar to the radio 202 and the processor 206 described abovewith reference to FIG. 2A. In some example implementations of the WAP250, the radio 256 may include multiple antennas, and the WAP mayinclude multiple radios. The WAP 250 may also include multipleprocessors 260 in some example implementations.

The WAP 250 likewise periodically measures its utilization to collectutilization metric measurements. The WAP 250 likewise adds theutilization metric measurements obtained to a utilization metric history264 stored at the data store 262 of the WAP 250. The WAP 250 may collectone or more of the same type of utilization metrics discussed above.

The WAP control server 252 is a computing device programmed withinstructions for receiving the utilization metric histories frommultiple WAPs, analyzing those utilization metric histories to determinecorrelations between WAP utilization and various timeframes, andselecting one or more operating parameters for one or more of the WAPsin signal communication with the WAP control server. The WAP controlserver 252 is also programmed with instructions for receiving statusinformation 257 from one or more remote systems 253 and/or one or moreremote devices 255 that are in signal communication with the WAP controlserver 252 via the network 254. The WAP control server 252 may alsodetermine utilization correlations based on the status information 257received, e.g., from the remote system 253 and/or the remote device 255.Accordingly, the WAP control server 252, in this example, includes aprocessor 266, memory 268, and a data store 270. The memory 268 storesutilization metric analysis logic 272 and parameter selection logic 274.The data store 270 stores WAP profiles 276 for each WAP the WAP controlserver 252 is in signal communication with, a set 278 of individualutilization metric histories 264 received from various WAPs such as WAP250, and utilization metric correlations 280 identified from an analysisof the utilization metric histories 264 and/or the status information257.

Each WAP profile 276 is associated with one of the WAPs in signalcommunication with the WAP control server 252, e.g., WAP 250. A WAPprofile 276 may include, for example, a unique identifier for the WAP(e.g., a MAC address of the WAP) and a location identifier indicatingthe location (or geographic region) in which the WAP is deployed. Inaddition, a WAP profile 276 may determine a date and time at which theWAP control server 252 most recently received a utilization metrichistory from the WAP associated with that WAP profile. In some exampleimplementations, a WAP profile 276 may determine the other WAPs withinwireless range of the WAP. In other example implementations, the WAPcontrol server 252 may determine the WAPs in wireless range of eachother based on the respective location identifiers of the WAP profiles276. In this way, the WAP control server 252 may coordinate theconfiguration of the WAPs that are in signal communication with eachother. Each utilization metric history 264 may be associated with one ofthe WAP profiles, e.g., by also including the unique identifier of theWAP that generated the channel metric history.

The data store 270, in this example, also stores system profiles 259 anddevice profiles 261 respectively associated with the remote systems anddevices the WAP control server 252 is in signal communication with. Thesystem profiles 259 and the device profiles 261 may store informationsimilar to that of the WAP profiles 276, e.g., a unique identifier forthe remote system or device, a location identifier indicating thelocation within which the remote system or device operates, a date andtime at which the WAP control sever 252 most recently received statusinformation from the remote system or device, and indications of otherWAPs that operate within the same location as the remote system ordevice.

The utilization metric analysis logic 272 in FIG. 2B is similar to theutilization metric analysis logic 216 of FIG. 2A in that it identifiescorrelations between utilization metrics and various timeframes. Theutilization metric analysis logic 272, however, may determinecorrelations with respect to utilization metrics based on an analysis ofmultiple utilization metric histories 264. As an example, theutilization metric analysis logic 272 may analyze multiple utilizationmetric histories 264 that are each associated with a common geographicregion and determine one or more correlations for that geographicregion. Accordingly, each utilization metric correlation 280 maydetermine the particular geographic region the utilization metriccorrelation has been identified for. The utilization metric correlations280 may likewise determine a correlation between a utilization metricand a timeframe. As noted above the utilization metric analysis logic272 may also determine the utilization metric correlations based,additionally or alternatively, on the status information 257 receivedfrom, e.g., the remote system 253 or the remote device 255.

The parameter selection logic 274 in FIG. 2B is likewise similar to theparameter selection logic 218 of FIG. 2A in that it selects a value forone or more operating parameters of a WAP such as WAP 250. The parameterselection logic 274, however, may select values for the operatingparameters of multiple WAPs and coordinate those selections for WAPswithin the same geographic region. The parameter selection logic 274 maysimilarly select a value for an operating parameter of a WAP for asingle timeframe or a sequence of operating parameter values for asequence of consecutive timeframes. The parameter selection logic 274may also similarly select values for multiple operating parameters,e.g., an operating channel, a radio frequency band, and a wirelessnetworking standard. Having selected values for one or more operatingparameters of the WAP 250, the WAP control server 252 may issue to thatWAP instructions having the selected values. In other exampleimplementations, the WAP control server 252 may only provide to a WAPthe correlations it identifies, and the WAP may select its operatingparameters based on the correlations received from the WAP controlserver.

FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of a system 300 in which a WAPcontrol server 302 is in signal communication with multiple WAPs 304 andmanages the configuration of those WAPs. The WAP control server 302 maybe the same as or at least similar to the WAP control server 352discussed above with reference to FIG. 2B. The WAPs 304 may be the sameas or at least similar to the WAP 200 or the WAP 250 also discussedabove with reference to FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B respectively.

As seen in FIG. 3, a WAP 304 transmits a utilization metric history 306to the WAP control server 302 which stores the utilization metrichistory at a data store in response. In some example implementations,the WAP 304 may delete the utilization metric history 306 aftertransmitting it to the WAP control server 302 in order to free upstorage space for a subsequent utilization metric history generated bythe WAP. A WAP 304 may transmit a utilization metric history 306 to theWAP control server 302 each time the utilization metric history isupdated with new utilization metric measurements or at regular intervals(e.g., every hour, once a day).

As also seen in FIG. 3, the WAP control server 302 transmits a parameterselection instruction 308 to a WAP 304. The parameter selectioninstruction 308 identifies an operating parameter of the WAP 304 andspecifies a value for that operating parameter. As described above, thevalue specified for the operating parameter is based on the utilizationmetric correlations identified. In response to receipt of the parameterselection instruction 308, the WAP 304 sets the identified operatingparameter to the value specified. The WAP control server 302 maytransmit the parameter selection instruction 308 in response todetermining that a better operating parameter is available (e.g., abetter channel) within the wireless environment surrounding a WAP 304,in response to determining that a utilization metric measurementreceived from a WAP has crossed a metric measurement threshold, inresponse to obtaining new utilization metric correlations, or at regularintervals (e.g., every hour, once a day). The parameter selectioninstruction 308 may identify multiple operating parameters (e.g., radiofrequency band, channel, and wireless networking standard) and specify avalue for each operating parameter identified. In addition, theparameter selection instruction 308 may identify a sequence of valuesfor an operating parameter and a corresponding sequence of timeframes inwhich a WAP 304 should set those operating parameters. As also seen inFIG. 3, the WAP control server 302, in this example, receives statusinformation 310 a lighting control system 312, a building securitysystem 314, and a temperature control system 316, and an energymanagement system 318. The lighting control system 312 may providestatus information indicating the activation or deactivation of one ormore lights at a location; the building security system 314 may providestatus information indicating the activation of an alarm at a location;the temperature control system may provide status information indicatinga thermostat setting at the location; and the energy management system318 may provide status information indicating an energy consumptionmeasured at the location.

Referring now to FIG. 4, an example of a beacon 400 transmitted by awireless access point that includes utilization information collected bya WAP. As seen in FIG. 4, the beacon 400 includes a header 402 and apayload 404. The header 402 of the beacon 400 may include informationthat identifies the WAP that transmitted the beacon, e.g., the MACaddress of the WAP. The payload 404 of the beacon 400 is thus utilizedto deliver the utilization information obtained by the WAP to aneighboring WAP. The utilization information in the payload 404, in thisexample, includes a measurement value 406 for a utilization metric, theoperating channel 408 of the WAP when the WAP measured the utilizationmetric, and a timestamp 410 at which the utilization metric wasmeasured.

It will be appreciated that the payload of a beacon may includeadditional or alternative utilization information. For example, thepayload of a beacon may include a sequence of measurement values for autilization metric (e.g., the previous x number of measurement valuesobtained by the WAP for that utilization metric), respective measurementvalues for multiple types of utilization metrics (e.g., a total numberof clients connected to the WAP and a bandwidth utilization of the WAP),and other types of utilization information that will be appreciated withthe benefit of this disclosure. It will also be appreciated that theamount of utilization information transmitted in a particular beacon maydepend on the maximum size of the payload of the beacon. In addition,the utilization information may additional or alternatively be injectedinto the headers of the transmissions from a WAP such that other WAPsmay read the utilization information in those headers during a scan ofthe wireless environment upon boot-up. The boot-up procedure for a WAPmay thus include scanning the wireless environment to determine a radiofrequency band and corresponding channel to set as its operating bandand operating channel. As part of the boot-up process, the WAP mayextract the utilization information from the payloads (or headers) ofthe transmissions from the other WAPs within that environment and selectan operating band and operating channel based on the utilizationinformation extracted.

Referring now to FIG. 5A, an example of an implementation of autilization metric history 500 is shown. The utilization metric history500, in this example, is configured as a table in which each row of thetable corresponds to a utilization metric measurement record 502 and inwhich the columns of the table correspond to the data elements of theutilization metric measurement records. For clarity not all of theutilization metric measurement records 502 have been labeled in FIG. 5A.A WAP may update the utilization metric history 500 by adding newutilization metric measurement records as new utilization metricmeasurements are obtained.

The data elements of the utilization metric measurement records 502, inthis example, include a frequency band data element 504, a channel dataelement 506, and a timestamp data element 508. The utilization metricmeasurement records also include one or more data elements correspondingto the one or more utilization metric measurements obtained by the WAP.As noted above, a WAP may measure one or more types of utilizationmetrics and store the utilization metric measurements obtained in theutilization metric history. Accordingly a utilization metric measurementrecord may include data elements for the utilization metric measurementsobtained as well as data elements for channel metrics derived from thechannel metric measurements obtained (e.g., an overall utilizationmetric). The utilization metric history 500 shown by way of example inFIG. 5A includes a first utilization metric data element 510corresponding to the total number of clients connected to the WAP duringthe measurement period and a second utilization metric data element 512corresponding to the bandwidth utilized at the WAP during themeasurement period. Other utilization metric histories may include dataelements corresponding to additional or alternative utilization metricswhich will be appreciated with the benefit of this disclosure. In someexample implementations, measurement periods may be uniquely identifiedvia a numeric identifier that sequentially increments for eachmeasurement period. It should also be appreciated that the valuesindicated in the various utilization metric measurement records 502 ofFIG. 5A are merely placeholder values used for illustration and are notintended to be an accurate representation of the values a WAP may obtainduring a measurement period.

As described above, a WAP or a WAP control server may analyze autilization metric history (such as utilization metric history 500) todetermine correlations between utilizations and various timeframes. Asseen in FIG. 5A, for example, the utilization metric measurement records502, obtained at ten minute increments indicate an increasingutilization starting at around 6:00 AM at which time the WAP operates onchannel 1. As seen in the successive utilization metric measurementrecords 502, the number of clients connected to the WAP increase (e.g.,from one client to six clients) and the percentage of bandwidthutilization at the WAP increases (e.g., from 10% to 85%). As also seenin the utilization metric history 500, the WAP changed its operatingchannel from channel 1 to channel 11 sometime between 7:00 AM and 7:10AM. The WAP may have implemented such a change, for example, based onutilization information provided by a neighboring WAP (e.g., to the WAPitself or to a WAP control server) indicating that WAP is also currentlyoperating on channel 1 and expects a relatively high utilizationstarting around 7:00 AM. To avoid or mitigate interference with thatother WAP, the WAP may switch to a different channel (e.g., channel 11)around the time the increased utilization at that other WAP is expectedto occur. To indicate the expectation, various techniques may employed.In some example implementations, for example, alphanumeric strings maybe utilized with an expectation parameter, e.g., “higher” or “lower.” Anexpectation may also include or otherwise be associated with a valueindicating the likelihood that utilization will increase or decrease,e.g., a confidence score for the expectation. A percentage likelihoodsuch as those described above may be employed as the confidence valuefor the expectation, e.g., a 70% percentage likelihood that theutilization will increase or decrease. In other example implementations,numeric values may be used, e.g., a 1 where the utilization is expectedto be higher and a 0 where utilization is expected to be lower. Wherenumeric values are employed, the value may encode the likelihood thatthe utilization will increase or decrease. For example, a positive sign(“+”) may be utilized to indicate the utilization is expected toincrease and a negative sign (“−”) may be utilized to indicate theutilization is expected to decrease. As an example, an expectation of“+7” may indicate that utilization of a WAP is expected to increase witha confidence of 70%, and an expectation of “−9” may indicate thatutilization is expected to decrease with a confidence of 90%. Inaddition, the magnitude of the value may indicate the relativeconfidence that utilization is expected to increase or decrease. Asanother example, an expectation of “+8” may indicate that utilization ofa WAP is likely to increase with greater confidence (e.g., 80% confidentthat utilization is likely to increase) as compared to an expectation of“+4” (e.g., 40% confident that utilization is likely to increase).Additional examples will be appreciated with the benefit of thisdisclosure.

Referring now to FIG. 5B, an example of an implementation of utilizationinformation that may be transmitted by a neighboring wireless accesspoint (WAP) is shown. A WAP that receives the utilization informationfrom a neighboring WAP may store the utilization information received ina table of records such as the table 520 shown by way of example in FIG.5B. The table 520 includes utilization information records 522 in whichthe columns of the table correspond to data elements of the utilizationinformation records. Again not all of the utilization informationrecords 522 have been labeled in FIG. 5B for clarity. A WAP may updatethe table 520 by adding new utilization information records as newutilization information is received from neighboring WAPs.

The data elements of the utilization information records 522, in thisexample, include an identifier data element 524, a frequency bandelement 526, a channel data element 528, and a timestamp data element530. In some example implementations, the utilization informationtransmitted by the WAP may only include the operating channel (ratherthan both the channel and the frequency band), and the WAP receiving theutilization information may derive the frequency band from the channelindicated. The identifier data element 524 indicates a unique identifierassociated with the neighboring WAP that transmitted the utilizationinformation (e.g., a MAC address of the neighboring WAP). Theutilization information records also include one or more data elementscorresponding to the one or more utilization metric measurementsobtained by the WAP. As noted above, the utilization metric measurementsmay include both quantitative and qualitative measurements. Accordinglythe table 520 of utilization information records 522, in this example,likewise includes a first utilization metric data element 532corresponding to the total number of clients connected to theneighboring WAP during the measurement period, a second utilizationmetric data element 534 corresponding to the bandwidth utilized at theWAP during the measurement period, and a third utilization metric dataelement 536 indicating a qualitative assessment of the utilization ofthe neighboring WAP. In some example implementations, the utilizationinformation transmitted by the neighboring WAP may include a qualitativeassessment of its utilization based on a comparison of one or moreutilization metric measurements to one or more respective utilizationmetric measurement thresholds. In other example implementations, theneighboring WAP may only include the utilization metric measurements inthe transmission, and the WAP that receives the utilization informationmay derive the qualitative assessments of the utilization of theneighboring WAP likewise based on a comparison of the utilization metricmeasurements received to one or more respective utilization metricmeasurement thresholds.

As seen in the example utilization information records 522 of FIG. 5B,utilization of the neighboring WAP sharply increases between 6:00 AM and8:00 AM both in terms of the number of clients connected to theneighboring WAP and the percentage of bandwidth utilization at theneighboring WAP. Accordingly utilization of the neighboring WAP becomesimpaired around 7:00 AM as the percentage of bandwidth utilized at theneighboring WAP (e.g., 95%) reaches the maximum available bandwidth. AWAP receiving this utilization information from the neighboring WAP maydetermine the correlation between the increased utilization of theneighboring WAP and the timeframe of 6:00 AM-8:00 AM. Since theutilization information transmitted by the neighboring WAP includes itsoperating channel (e.g., channel 1), the WAP receiving the utilizationinformation may determine to switch to an operating channel other thanchannel 1 (e.g., channel 11) in order to avoid or mitigate interferencewith or from the increased traffic on the operating channel of theneighboring WAP. Additional examples will be appreciated with thebenefit of this disclosure.

Referring now to FIG. 5C, an example of an implementation of statusinformation that may be transmitted by a remote system or deviceconfigured to operate within the location at which a wireless accesspoint (WAP) is deployed is shown. A WAP that receives the utilizationinformation from a remote system or device may likewise store theutilization information received in a table of records such as the table540 shown by way of example in FIG. 5C. The remote system or device maybe configured, in some example implementations, to transmit its statueinformation in a similar fashion as a neighboring WAP, e.g., at periodicintervals and using a beacon. Accordingly a WAP may receive the statusinformation directly from the remote system or device. In other exampleimplementations, the remote system or device may be in wired or wirelesssignal communication with a central server (e.g., a WAP control server)via a network such as, e.g., the Internet and/or a service providernetwork. Accordingly, a remote system or device may transmit its statusinformation to the central server, and the central server may route thestatus information to one or more WAPs, e.g., the WAPs deployed to thelocation within which the remote system or device is associated with(e.g., configured to operate). Accordingly a WAP may also receive thestatus information indirectly from the remote system or device, e.g.,via another device that routes the status information to the WAP fromthe remote system or device.

The table 540 includes status information records 542 in which thecolumns of the table correspond to the data elements of the statusinformation records. Again, for clarity, not all of the statusinformation records 542 have been labeled in FIG. 5C. A WAP may updatethe table 540 by adding new status information records as new statusinformation is received from a remote system or device, e.g., directlyor indirectly. The data elements of the status information records 542,in this example, include an identifier data element 544 and a timestampdata element 546. The identifier data element 544 may indicate a uniqueidentifier associated with the remote system or device (e.g., a serialnumber, a customer number, etc.). The status information records 542, inthis example, indicate the date and time a remote system or device wasactivated and deactivated. Accordingly the status information records542, in this example, also include a status data element 548 thatindicates an activation status (e.g., activated or deactivated) and aday data element 550 indicating a day-of-the-week for the activationstatus. The status information received at the WAP may include theindication of the day-of-the-week or the WAP may derive theday-of-the-week from the timestamp included in the status informationreceived.

As noted above, the status of a system or device configured to operatewithin the location at which a WAP is deployed may be advantageouslyutilized to assess the likelihood of whether that WAP will be utilizedduring various timeframes. The status information records 542 in FIG. 5Cmay represent the type of status information a home security system mayprovide. As seen in these example status information records 542, thehome security system is consistently activated between 7:00 AM and 8:00AM and then consistently deactivated between 6:00 PM and 7:00 PM. A WAPor a WAP control server may receive this status information anddetermine that this pattern of activation and deactivation indicateswhen the occupant is and is not at home (e.g., when the occupant leavesfor work in the morning and returns home from work in the evening) andthus likely or not likely to utilize the WAP. Accordingly the WAP or theWAP control server and conclude that the likelihood of the occupantutilizing the WAP between 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM to be relatively low.Based on this determination, the WAP may select one or more of itsoperating parameters or the WAP control server may select one or moreoperating parameters for the WAP. For example, the WAP or WAP controlserver may select a relatively low transmit power for the timeframe of8:00 AM-6:00 PM. The WAP or WAP control server may also, in somecircumstances, decide to completely deactivate in response to receipt ofstatus information from a remote system or device. Additional exampleswill be appreciated with the benefit of this disclosure. The likelihoodof WAP utilization may be quantified, for example, as a percentagelikelihood that the WAP will be utilized for a particular time period,e.g., a 75% likelihood that the WAP will be utilized between the hoursof 6:00 PM and 11:00 PM. Additional examples will be appreciated withthe benefit of this disclosure. Furthermore, in some exampleimplementations, a percentage likelihood of less than or equal to 40%may be considered to be a relatively low likelihood that the WAP will beutilized while a percentage likelihood of greater than or equal to 60%may be considered to be a relatively high likelihood that the WAP willbe utilized. In addition the WAP or WAP control server may combinestatus information from multiple systems (e.g., a home security systemand a temperature control system) to determine the likelihood that theWAP may be utilized. As an example, a WAP or a WAP control server maycompute an average percentage likelihood using a percentage likelihooddetermined for a home security system and a percentage likelihooddetermined for a temperature control system. Additional examples will beappreciated with the benefit of this disclosure.

The table below illustrates example correlations between utilization andthe time-of-day that may be identified through an analysis of one ormore utilization metric histories. Again the values indicated in thetable below are simply used for illustration.

TABLE 1 Example Correlations Between Utilization and Time-of-DayFrequency Overall Band Channel Time-of-Day Utilization 2.4 GHz 1  4:30AM-8:30 AM 2/10 2.4 GHz 1 8:30 AM-5:30PM  9/10 2.4 GHz 11  5:30 PM-11:30PM 6/10 2.4 GHz 1 11:30 PM-4:30 AM 1/10

As seen in Table 1 above, utilization of a WAP has been determined to berelatively low between the hours of 4:30 AM-8:30 AM and 11:30 PM-4:30AM, and the utilization of the WAP and determined to be relatively highbetween the hours of 8:30 AM-5:30 PM and 5:30 PM-11:30 PM. The WAP maytransmit this utilization information to other WAPs or a WAP controlserver which may select one or more operating parameters based on thereceived utilization information that indicates the timeframes duringwhich utilization of the WAP is expected to be relatively high orrelatively low.

As described above, utilization metric correlations may be identifiedfor additional and alternative timeframes. The table below illustratesexample correlations between utilization and the day of the week.

TABLE 2 Example Correlations Between Utilization and Day of the WeekFrequency Day of Overall Band Channel the Week Utilization 2.4 GHz 1Monday 9/10 2.4 GHz 1 Tuesday 8/10 2.4 GHz 1 Wednesday 8/10 2.4 GHZ 1Thursday 7/10 2.4 GHz 1 Friday 5/10 2.4 GHz 11 Saturday 2/10 2.4 GHz 11Sunday 2/10

As seen in Table 2 above, utilization of the WAP has been determined tobe relatively higher on weekdays (e.g., Monday-Friday) and relativelylower on weekends (e.g., Saturday-Sunday). Accordingly, a neighboringWAP may receive this utilization information and, based on theseidentified correlations, switch its operating channel to channel 11during weekdays and switch its operating channel to channel 1 duringweekends.

As also described above, channel metric correlations may be identifiedfor multiple timeframes. The table below illustrates examplecorrelations between utilization and times-of-the-day on various days ofthe week.

TABLE 3 Example Correlations Between Utilization and Times-of-the-Day onDays of the Week Frequency Day of Overall Band Channel the WeekTime-of-Day Utilization 2.4 GHz 1 Monday 4:30 AM-8:30 AM 8/10 2.4 GHz 1Monday 8:30 AM-5:30 PM  4/10 2.4 GHz 1 Monday  5:30 PM-11:30 PM 5/10 2.4GHz 1 Monday 11:30 PM-4:30 AM  8/10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.4GHz 11 Saturday 4:30 AM-8:30 AM 5/10 2.4 GHz 11 Saturday 8:30 AM-5:30PM  7/10 2.4 GHz 11 Saturday  5:30 PM-11:30 PM 8/10 2.4 GHz 11 Saturday11:30 PM-4:30 AM  4/10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

As seen in Table 3, above, utilization of a WAP varies differentlythroughout the day on different days of the week. In this example,utilization of the WAP on Mondays has been determined to be relativelyhigher between 4:30 AM-8:30 AM and 11:30 PM-4:30 AM and relatively lowerbetween the hours of 8:30 AM-5:30 PM and 5:30 PM-11:30 PM. On Saturdays,however, utilization of the WAP has been determined to be relativelyhigher between 8:30 AM-5:30 PM and 5:30 PM-11:30 PM and relatively lowerbetween 4:30 AM-8:30 AM and 11:30 PM-4:30 AM. These example correlationsillustrate the types of nuances that may be advantageously identifiedthrough the storage and analysis of utilization metric histories andthus used to intelligently configure WAPs to improve their performancein the wireless environments in which they reside.

As also described above, a WAP control server may issue parameterselection instructions to one or more WAPs that change one or more oftheir operating parameters in response to receipt of those instructions.In some example implementations, a parameter selection instruction mayonly specify a particular radio frequency band and a particular channelto use, and the WAP may immediately change its operating radio frequencyband and operating channel to those specified in the parameter selectioninstruction received. As described above, however, a parameter selectioninstruction may specify a sequence of operating parameters to utilizeduring a corresponding sequence of timeframes. The table belowillustrates an example of a sequence of operating parameters.

TABLE 4 Example Parameter Selection Instruction with Sequence ofOperating Parameters Radio Timeframe Frequency Band Channel 3:00 AM-6:00AM 2.4 GHz 1  7:00 AM-10:00 AM 2.4 GHz 6 10:00 AM-2:00 PM   5 GHz 362:00 PM-5:00 PM 5 GHz 40 5:00 PM-8:00 PM 5 GHz 44   8:00 PM-12:00 AM 2.4GHz 11 12:00 AM-3:00 AM  — —

As seen in Table 4 above, the example parameter selection instructioninstructs a WAP to switch between the 2.4 GHz and the 5 GHz radiofrequency bands throughout the day. The example parameter selectioninstruction also instructs to switch between various channels withinthose respective frequency bands throughout the day. As noted above, aparameter selection instruction may also identify one or more timeframesin which the WAP should deactivate, for example, as shown in Table 4above between 12:00 AM and 3:00 AM. Additional and alternative examplesof correlations and parameter selection instructions will be appreciatedwith the benefit of this disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 6, a flowchart of example method steps for configuringan operating parameter of a wireless access point (WAP) is shown. Asnoted above, a WAP may periodically measure its utilization at regularintervals (e.g., every ten minutes, every hour, etc.). Accordingly theWAP may initiate evaluation of its utilization at the start of a newmeasurement period (block 602). During the measurement period, the WAPmay measure its utilization during the measurement period (block 604).The WAP may measure one or more types of utilization metrics asdescribed above (e.g., number of connected client devices, bandwidthutilization, etc.) and store the utilization metric measurementsobtained in a history of utilization metric measurements (block 606) atthe WAP. The WAP may also transmit at least a portion of the history ofutilization metric measurements to another WAP (block 608), e.g., in abeacon transmitted to the other WAP.

As described above, the WAP may also receive utilization informationfrom another WAP, e.g., in a beacon transmitted from the other WAP. Ifthe WAP receives utilization information from another WAP (block 610:Y),then the WAP may store the utilization information received (block 612),e.g., for subsequent analysis. As also described above, the WAP mayreceive status information from one or more remote systems or devicesdeployed within the location at which the WAP is deployed. If the WAPreceives status information from a remote system or device (block614:Y), then the WAP may store the status information received (block616), e.g., for subsequent analysis. The WAP may, however, not receiveany utilization information (block 610:N) or status information (block614:N) during or between measurement periods.

After measuring its utilization, the WAP may analyze the history ofutilization metric measurements and any utilization information and/orstatus information received (block 618). During this analysis, the WAPmay determine correlations between the utilization of the WAP andvarious timeframes (block 620) as described above. Based on thecorrelations identified, the WAP may select a value for one of itsoperating parameters (block 622)—e.g., a radio frequency band, operatingchannel, transmit power, and the like—and set that operating parameterto the value selected (block 624). The WAP may then wait for the nextmeasurement period to evaluate its utilization (block 626), and againinitiate evaluation of its utilization (block 602) at the start of nextmeasurement period.

Referring to FIG. 7, a flowchart of example method steps for configuringrespective operating parameters of multiple wireless access points(WAPs) using a WAP control server is shown. As described above, a WAPcontrol server may receive utilization information from multiple WAPsdeployed at a location (block 702), and store the utilizationinformation received from the WAPs (block 704) for subsequent analysis.As also described above, the WAP control server may also receive statusinformation from one or more remote systems or devices. Accordingly, ifthe WAP control server receives status information from a remote systemor device (block 706:Y), then the WAP control server may store thestatus information received (block 708) for subsequent analysis. Asnoted above, however, the WAP control server may not always receivestatus information from a remote system or device (block 706:N). Havingstored the utilization information received from the WAPs, the WAPcontrol server may analyze the utilization information and any statusinformation received (block 710) and determine correlations between theutilization of the WAPs and various timeframes (block 712).

Having identified correlations associated with the utilization of theWAPs, the WAP control server may select one of the WAPs to configurebased on those correlations (block 714). The WAP control server mayselect, for the selected WAP, a value for one of its operatingparameters based on the correlations identified (block 716) and send tothe selected WAP an instruction to set the selected operating parameterto the selected value (block 718). As described above, in response toreceipt of the instruction, the selected WAP may set the selectedoperating parameter to the value indicated therein.

Referring to FIG. 8, a flowchart of example method steps for connectinga client device to one of multiple wireless access points (WAPs)available at a location is shown. A client device positioned within alocation at which multiple WAPs are deployed may listen fortransmissions containing utilization information from those WAPs (block802). As describe above, the WAPs may periodically transmit beaconscontaining utilization metric measurements respectively obtained by theWAPs. Accordingly the client device may receive a first transmissionfrom a first WAP containing first utilization information for that firstWAP (block 804) and receive a second transmission from a second WAPcontaining second utilization information for that second WAP (block806). The client device may then analyze the utilization informationreceived in the respective transmissions (block 810) in order todetermine which one of the WAPs is less utilized.

If the client device determines, based on the utilization informationreceived that the first WAP is the less utilized WAP (block 812:Y), thenthe client device may choose connect to the first WAP (block 814). Ifhowever, the client device determines, based on the utilizationinformation received that the first WAP is not the less utilized WAP(block 812:N) but determines, however, that the second WAP is the lessutilized WAP (block 816:Y), then the client device may choose to connectto the second WAP (block 818). If, however, the client device determinesthat the second WAP is also not the less utilized WAP (block816:N)—i.e., if the client device determines that there is a negligibledifference in the utilization of each WAP—then the client device maychoose to connect to either the first WAP or the second WAP. The clientdevice may determine that the difference in utilization is negligiblewhere the respective utilization metric measurements received from theWAPs are equal or substantially the same, i.e., where the differencebetween the respective utilization metric measurements does not exceed apredetermined difference threshold (e.g., 10%). As also noted above,where there is a negligible difference in utilization metricmeasurements, a client device may select to one of the available WAPs atrandom or according to some selection scheme, e.g., connect to the WAPhaving the highest received signal strength indicator (RSSI) for itstransmissions. It will be appreciated that the client device maydetermine which WAP to connect to based on a current utilizationindicated in the utilization information received or an expectedutilization for a subsequent timeframe indicated in the utilizationinformation received.

With respect to changing the operating parameters of a WAP, variousstrategies may be employed. In some example implementations, a WAP maychange one or more of its operating parameters (e.g., the operatingchannel) immediately in response to determining that a currentutilization metric measurement has crossed a utilization metricmeasurement threshold. Such a reactive change to the operatingparameters of the WAP, however, may negatively impact any client devicescurrently connected to the WAP. To mitigate the negative impact onclient devices currently connected to the WAP, the WAP, in some otherexample implementations, may be configured to only change its operatingparameters during off-peak usage hours as determined by the history ofutilization metric measurements collected by the WAP. In addition, theWAP, in some example implementations, may be configured such that it islimited in the number of times it is permitted to change its operatingparameters within a predetermined time period, e.g., no more than threechanges to its operating parameters within a 24 hour period or no morethan one change to its operating parameters within a one hour period.Furthermore, the WAPs, in some example implementations, may beconfigured to transmit an announcement indicating a change to theoperating parameters of the WAP (e.g., a “channel switch announcement”)to allow rapid re-authentication of any client devices connected to theWAP during the change of operating parameters. Moreover, the WAPs, insome example implementations, may be configured such that they are notpermitted to change their operating parameters when, e.g., a thresholdnumber of client devices are currently connected to the WAPs or the WAPsare handling a threshold level of traffic between the client devices.Such techniques likewise mitigate any negative affects resulting fromchanging WAP operating parameters while actively servicing clientdevices.

In addition, qualitative assessments may be employed to describe theutilization of the WAP (e.g., the number of clients connected, thepercentage of bandwidth utilized, etc.) based on the history ofutilization metric measurements. For example, in some implementations,utilization may be categorized into four different levels for varioustime periods based on the history of utilization metric measurements,e.g., “perfect,” “good,” “impaired,” and “unusable.” The values thatdefine the boundaries between utilization categories may depend on theparticular implementations employed and may, in some exampleimplementations, be configurable parameters. As one example, utilizationof a WAP may be categorized as “perfect” where the percentage ofbandwidth utilized at the WAP is between 0% and less than 10%; may becategorized as “good” where the percentage of bandwidth utilized isbetween 10% and less than 50%; may be categorized as “impaired” wherethe percentage of bandwidth utilized is between 50% and less than 90%;and may be categorized as “unusable” where the bandwidth utilization isgreater than 90%. Additional examples will be appreciated with thebenefit of this disclosure. Each level may correspond to a respectiveutilization metric measurement threshold. Accordingly, a utilization ofa WAP may, as an example, be categorized as “perfect” for the hours of1:00 AM-5:00 AM when an historic utilization metric measurement for thattime period is below a first utilization metric measurement threshold,as “good” for the hours of 5:00 AM-8:00 AM when an historic utilizationmetric measurement for that time period is between the first utilizationmetric measurement threshold and a second utilization metric measurementthreshold, as “impaired” for the hours of 8:00 AM-4:00 PM when anhistoric utilization metric measurement for that time period is betweenthe second utilization metric measurement threshold and a thirdutilization metric measurement threshold, and as “unusable” for thehours of 4:00 PM-10:00 PM when an historic utilization metricmeasurement for that time period is above the third channel metricmeasurement threshold. Additional examples will be appreciated with thebenefit of this disclosure.

For low-level categories (e.g., “unusable” and “impaired”), the WAPs inthese example implementations may be configured and permitted to changetheir operating parameters after various time periods. For example, whenutilization of a WAP has been categorized as “unusable” for a particulartime period, the WAP may be configured such that it is permitted tochange its operating parameters after a fifteen minutes duration. Asanother example, when utilization of a WAP has been categorized as“impaired” for a particular time period, the WAP may be configured suchthat it is permitted to change its operating parameters after a one hourduration. Additional examples will be appreciated with the benefit ofthis disclosure. As noted above, in some example implementations, a WAPmay be configured such that it is not permitted to change its operatingparameters if the prior change occurred within a predetermined timeperiod, e.g., the last hour.

All of the thresholds identified above may be, in some exampleimplementations, configurable. The thresholds may be manuallyconfigurable by an individual in addition to or alternatively by the WAPitself or a control system for the WAP (e.g., the WAP control server).

Referring now to FIG. 9, an example of an implementation of a hardwareplatform on which the various elements described herein can beimplemented is shown. The computing device 900 may include one or moreprocessors 901, which may execute instructions of a computer program toperform any of the features described herein. The instructions may bestored in any type of computer-readable medium or memory, to configurethe operation of the processor 901. For example, instructions may bestored in a read-only memory (ROM) 902, random access memory (RAM) 903,removable media 904, such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) drive, compactdisk (CD) or digital versatile disk (DVD), floppy disk drive, or anyother desired electronic storage medium. Instructions may also be storedin an attached (or internal) hard drive 905. The computing device 900may include one or more output devices, such as a display 906 (or anexternal television), and may include one or more output devicecontrollers 907, such as a video processor. There may also be one ormore user input devices 908, such as a remote control, keyboard, mouse,touch screen, microphone, etc. The computing device 900 may also includeone or more network interfaces, such as input/output circuits 909 (suchas a network card) to communicate with an external network 910. Thenetwork interface may be a wired interface, wireless interface, or acombination of the two. In some embodiments, the interface 909 mayinclude a modem (e.g., a cable modem), and network 910 may include thecommunication lines, the external network 909, an in-home network, aservice provider's wireless, coaxial, fiber, or hybrid fiber/coaxialdistribution system (e.g., a DOCSIS network), or any other desirednetwork.

Aspects of the disclosure have been described in terms of illustrativeembodiments thereof. While illustrative systems and methods as describedherein embodying various aspects of the present disclosure are shown, itwill be understood by those skilled in the art, that the disclosure isnot limited to these embodiments. Modifications may be made by thoseskilled in the art, particularly in light of the foregoing teachings.

For example, the steps illustrated in the illustrative figures may beperformed in other than the recited order, and that one or more stepsillustrated may be optional in accordance with aspects of thedisclosure. It will also be appreciated and understood thatmodifications may be made without departing from the true spirit andscope of the present disclosure. The description is thus to be regardedas illustrative instead of restrictive on the present disclosure.

1. A method comprising: determining, by a first wireless access point,measurements for a utilization metric of the first wireless accesspoint; receiving, by the first wireless access point and from a secondwireless access point: first utilization information indicatingutilization of the second wireless access point during a first timeperiod and second utilization information indicating utilization of thesecond wireless access point during a time period that is prior to thefirst time period; and adjusting, by the first wireless access point, anoperating parameter based on the measurements for the utilization metricand the second utilization information indicating utilization of thesecond wireless access point.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein theadjusting the operating parameter comprises: determining the operatingparameter based on a historical security system utilization of thesecond wireless access point.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein: a firstmeasurement of the measurements for the utilization metric comprises anindication of a channel used by the first wireless access point duringmeasuring of the utilization metric.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein:the utilization metric comprises one or more of: a measurement oftraffic on a channel, a measurement of bandwidth available on thechannel, a quantity of client devices in communication with the firstwireless access point, a quantity of packets sent by the first wirelessaccess point within a first predetermined time period, a quantity offrames sent by the first wireless access point within a secondpredetermined time period, or a volume of data sent by the firstwireless access point within a third predetermined time period.
 5. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: receiving, by the first wirelessaccess point, status information associated with a computing deviceconfigured to operate at a location at which the first wireless accesspoint is deployed, and wherein the adjusting the operating parametercomprises selecting the operating parameter based on the received statusinformation.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving, bythe first wireless access point, status information associated with acomputing device configured to operate at a location at which the firstwireless access point is deployed, wherein: the adjusting the operatingparameter comprises selecting the operating parameter based further onthe received status information; and the computing device comprises oneor more of a security system configured to monitor one or morestructures, a lighting control system configured to control lighting ofone or more structures, a temperature control system configured tocontrol a temperature of one or more structures, or an energy managementsystem configured to measure energy consumption.
 7. The method of claim1, wherein: the operating parameter comprises one or more of: a radiofrequency band, a channel within the radio frequency band, a networkingstandard, or a transmit power.
 8. A method comprising: determining, by afirst wireless access point, measurements for a utilization metric;receiving, from a second wireless access point: first utilizationinformation indicating utilization of the second wireless access pointduring a first time period, and second utilization informationindicating utilization of the second wireless access point over one ormore time periods that are prior to the first time period; receiving, bythe first wireless access point and from a computing device, statusinformation associated with the computing device; and adjusting, by thefirst wireless access point, an operating parameter associated with thefirst wireless access point based, at least in part, on the measurementsfor the utilization metric, the first utilization information, thesecond utilization information, and the status information.
 9. Themethod of claim 8, wherein: the status information comprises anactivation status of the computing device, wherein the computing deviceis configured to operate within a location at which the first wirelessaccess point is deployed, and the adjusting the operating parametercomprises adjusting the operating parameter based on the activationstatus of the computing device.
 10. The method of claim 8, furthercomprising: determining, by the first wireless access point and based onthe measurements for the utilization metric, a correlation between theutilization metric and a second time period; and adjusting, by the firstwireless access point, based on the correlation, and during the secondtime period, the operating parameter.
 11. The method of claim 8,wherein: a first measurement of the measurements for the utilizationmetric comprises an indication of a channel used by the first wirelessaccess point during measuring of the utilization metric; and theutilization metric comprises one or more of a measurement of traffic onthe channel, a measurement of bandwidth available on the channel, aquantity of client devices in communication with the first wirelessaccess point, a quantity of packets sent by the first wireless accesspoint, a quantity of frames sent by the first wireless access point, ora volume of data sent by the first wireless access point within apredetermined time period.
 12. The method of claim 8, wherein: thestatus information comprises an activation status of lighting of one ormore structures controlled by the computing device, and the adjustingthe operating parameter comprises adjusting the operating parameterbased on the activation status of the lighting of one or morestructures.
 13. The method of claim 8, wherein: the status informationindicates that a building security system is activated during the firsttime period, and the adjusting the operating parameter comprisesreducing, based on the status information, a transmit power associatedwith the first wireless access point.
 14. The method of claim 8,wherein: the receiving the status information comprises: receiving, bythe first wireless access point and from a home security system, statusinformation associated with the home security system; and the methodfurther comprises: receiving, by the first wireless access point andfrom a temperature control system, status information associated withthe temperature control system; and the adjusting the operatingparameter comprises determining, based on the status informationassociated with the home security system and the status informationassociated with the temperature control system, the operating parameter.15. The method of claim 11, further comprising: determining, based onthe status information, a likelihood of whether the computing device,during the first time period, utilizes the first wireless access point.16. A method comprising: receiving, from a first wireless access pointand for each of a plurality of time periods, measurements for a firstutilization metric of the first wireless access point; receiving, from asecond wireless access point and for each of the plurality of timeperiods, measurements for a second utilization metric of the secondwireless access point; receiving, from a computing device, statusinformation associated with the computing device; and adjusting anoperating parameter associated with the first wireless access pointbased, at least in part, on the measurements for the first utilizationmetric, the measurements for the second utilization metric, and thestatus information.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the adjustingthe operating parameter comprises: determining the operating parameterbased on a historical security system utilization of the second wirelessaccess point.
 18. The method of claim 16, wherein: each of the firstutilization metric and the second utilization metric comprise one ormore of: a measurement of traffic on a channel, a measurement ofbandwidth available on the channel, a quantity of client devices incommunication with the first wireless access point or the secondwireless access point, or a quantity of packets sent, by the firstwireless access point or the second wireless access point, within afirst predetermined time period.
 19. The method of claim 16, wherein thecomputing device comprises one or more of a security system configuredto monitor one or more structures, a lighting control system configuredto control lighting of one or more structures, a temperature controlsystem configured to control a temperature of one or more structures, oran energy management system configured to measure energy consumption.20. The method of claim 16, wherein: the operating parameter comprisesone or more of: a radio frequency band, a channel within the radiofrequency band, a networking standard, or a transmit power.